KARACHI: All examination boards in Sindh are set to adopt a single, standardized assessment system, as the Sindh Education Department announced on Friday. This marks a significant milestone in creating a cohesive evaluation process throughout the province.
Under this new approach, exams for core subjects including English, Mathematics, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology will now follow a unified framework, ensuring consistency across all boards.
Provincial Education Minister Sardar Ali Shah described this move as a historic reform, emphasizing that it will boost transparency and provide a fairer assessment of students’ capabilities. The School Education Department has formally approved the Uniform Examination Syllabus (UES) after receiving a No Objection Certificate (NOC), following directives from the education minister.
Initially, the UES has been rolled out for Grades 9 and 10, based on thorough reviews and suggestions from the Directorate of Curriculum, Assessment and Research (DCAR). The examination papers will be crafted in accordance with the Table of Specifications (ToS), aligning assessments with the new standards.
The education minister clarified that exams will now be based on the UES rather than solely on textbooks. This change will enable all boards to create question papers within the same framework, helping to eliminate disparities and perceptions that some boards are easier or harder than others.
Shah highlighted that this reform shifts focus from rote memorization to understanding, practical application, and critical thinking skills, providing a more accurate reflection of students’ true learning levels. He stressed that modernizing assessment practices will elevate examination quality while enhancing transparency and uniformity.
Additionally, efforts are underway to improve Student Learning Outcomes and strengthen teacher training programs to effectively implement these reforms. Shah believes these measures will lay the groundwork for an education system that meets future demands and ensures fair evaluation.
Currently, the implementation of the UES is limited to Grades 9 and 10, with plans to introduce the syllabus for Grades 11 and 12 after further review and recommendations from DCAR.
